Switch mechanism



Patented Oct. 14, 1 924.

UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE F. KRIEG, r02E' IALTIMORE, KABYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 i WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COHYANY, A CORPORATION F PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application led October 6, 1920. lSerial No. 415,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE F. Kruis,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Baltimore, in the cityof Baltimore and i State of Maryland, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Switch Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to enclosedentrance switches for controlling elect-ric current delivered tofactories, apartments, residences and like buildings.

An object of this invention is to provide a switch box having a switchcompartment and a fuse compartment, each provided with a separate cover.so controlled by the switch mechanism that the cover closing the fusecompartment is locked in closed positionl so long as the switchmechanism is in closed position, and that the. cover closing the switchcompartment is locked in closed posi-tion so long as the switch is inopen position, if desired.

Another object is to provide a switch box having the abovecharacteristics wherein the switch-operating mechanism may be locked andsealed `in off or open position, thereby locking the cover closing theswitch compartment in closed position without interfering with theopening move-ment of the cover closing the fuse compartment.

A further object is to provide a switch box having the abovecharacteristics wherein the interlocking mechanism between the coversand the switch mechanism is simple, durable and 4inexpensive tomanufacture, and wherein the switch mechanism serves to retain thecovers for the switch compartment and the fuse compartment-in closedposition when the switch is in an openposition intermediate extremeclosed and opened positions.

Another object is to provide a switch box wherein the cover closing theswitch compartment V is provided 'with an indicator visible `from theexterior of the box and actuated by the switch mechanism, for thepurpose of indicating On and Off positionsof the switch.

Another object is to provideI a switch box wherein the cover for thefuse compartment is provided with fuse receptacles for con taining extrafuses which are accessible when the cover is in open position.

A en

Another object yis to provide a. switch box wherein the fuse and switchpanel is so supported in spaced rela-tion with the bottom of the -boXlthat certain conductors and terminals entering the box may beaccommodated beneath the panel.

A further object is to provide a switch box wherein the potentialconductors enten ing the fuse compartment and leading to the potentialcoil of the meter are` not accessible in the fuse compartment, but areconnected to a terminal at a point within the switch compartment.

' lVhen new wiring installations are made,

several different agencies are `involved in the operation, these'agencies being the wiring contractor, the electric service company andthe Wiring inspector. It is not always eX- pedient for these agencies:to operate simultaneously, and the service company may desire toconnect the meter and main switch with the service line before the'wiring throughout the system is completed, in which event it isnecessar to guard against the premature closing yo the main switchcontrolling the current to the wiring system until the wiring has beencompleted and the inspector has approved ot thel installation. In orderto provide `an entrance switch having the proper safe guards, I haveprovided the apparatus with a cover-arri switch-mechanism interlockingarrangement having the above recited characteristics. When the servicecompany has installed the meter and, the enclosed main. switch, vasspecifiedabove, the switch may be locked and sealed in open positionwherein the cover closing the switch and the live` entrance terminalslis locked in closed position. The operating mechanisnr is provided withsuitable sealing means which may be broken only by au authorized wiringinspector. Therefore, current cannot be turned into the system untilafter the inspector has broken the seal and closed the switch.

The wiring contractor may, at such times,

gain access to the fuse compartments and v may insert the required fusesand connect the dead-meter terminals without exposing any live parts.The interlocking arrange-v ment is such that, when the switch has beenclosed by an inspector, the cover closing the fuse compartment is lockedin closed posi tion. The cover closing the switch compart- 'nient may beopened at this time for the purpose oi inspection. This cover may belocked and scaled exteriorly of the housing, as it is intended that thiscover be opened only by authorized persons. p

1n the event that the service company desires to discontinue theservice, the operating-handle may be sealed in an intermediate,

ligure 1 is a longitudinal section through the housing showing theswitch mechanism in side elevation, with the switch in'closed position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown 1 n Fig. 1, with the switch shownin open position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the switch and thehousing covers in open osition. l

Fig. 4 is a transverse longitudinal section throu h the housing taken onthe line 1V V of F ig. 3, showing the switch mechanism in plan view.

Fig. 5 is a top plan of a fragment of the switch-compartment c overshowing the indicator mechanism..

Referrinv to the drawings, thev apparatus includes a iousing having abottom wall 5, end walls 6 and I and side walls 8I and 9.

Within the housing is disposed a fuse and switch insulating panel 10that is so mounted in spaced relation with the bottom 5 upon supports11, that a space 12 is provided beneath the panel for the accommodationof conductors, such as the meter-potential conductors 13, and otherswhich enter the box through perforations 14 in the end walls adjacent.the panel. Upon the panel 10 are mounted three sets of stationaryswitch-jaw members 15 in which are pivoted movable knife-blade members16 having their free ends connected by an insulatin bar 17. Theswitch-blade members are` ac apted to be simultaneously moved intoengagement with separate switch-jaw members 18 that are positionedopposite the jaw members 15 and to which the service conductors 19,which ent-er the housing through the perforation 14, are attached bymeans of the threaded nuts 20. For-the pur ose of providing ample spacein ywhich lieavy-duty service conductors 19 may be located, the end 7 ofthe bei; is provided with an extension 19 'to which theusual conduit isattached. Y

,et tlie opposite end oi the panel 5, three sets of terminal clips 21and 22 are located, for receiving the fuse elements 23. The clips 21 andthe switch jaws 15 are connected by metallic-conductor strips 24 andtheclips 22 are connected by means of threaded nuts 25 to conductors 26,which enter the box through perforations 14.

A partition 27 divides the housing into a switch compartment 28 and afuse compartment 29, the former being closed by means of a hinged coveror door 30 that is provided with lia-nge members 31 which extendinteriorly ofthe housing. Pivot screws 32 extend through the saidiianges and are secured to the side walls of the housing, therebyforming a hinge connection about which the door or. cover may be turnedto open or to closed position. A cover or door 33 that is provided withinwardly-depending ears or webs 84 is so pivoted to the side walls ofthe housing by means of screws 35 that it may be turned to open and toclosed position. The inner face of this cover is provided with a seriesof clips 33a and 33?; for detachably retaining several extra fuses whichare made accessible, when the cover` is in open position.

The switch members 16 are moved to open and to closed position by meansof a pair of operating rods 36 that slide longitudinally of the housingin guide slots 37 provided in the end wall 6 and the partition 27adjacent the upper edges thereof. A pair of bell-crank lever arms 38 arepivoted upon ylate'rally-extending supports 39 that are mounted,respectively, on the side walls 8 and 9 which carry the pivot pins 40.The inner ends of the rods 36 are pivoted at 4l to one arm of thebell-crank levers. pivot pins 41 carried by the rod 36 operate in theslots 42 provided in the said arms. Movement of the rods 36 to the rightturns the arms 43 of the bell-crank lever 12 in a clockwise direction,which movement is translated to the switching members 16 for the reasonthat the free ends of the arms 43 are joined to the insulating bar 17.The outer ends of the rods 36 are connected by means of an operatinghandle 44.

From the foregoing7 it is apparent that the switch is moved to theclosed position illustrated in Fig. 1 by movement of the operatinghandle toward thev adjacent end of the housing, and that the switch ismoved to the open position, as shown in Fig. 2, by movement of thehandle away from the housing.

An. object of this invention is tol so interlock the switch mechanismwith the covers 30 and 33 that, when the switch is in closed position,the cover 33 closin the fuse compartment is locked in close position,and, when the switch mechanism is in open position, the cover closingthe switch compartment is locked in closed position. The ianges 3l ofthe cover 30 are provided with The (not shown) adjacent, the bottom otthe box through which -the service :testis may enter the box et anydesired point.

' The operation oit the switch mechanism is es Yoiiovvs: miiheii theservice company installs the :meter in the Wiring system entranceterminals ere connected to the switch terminals or enti the switch isthen moved to the open positieve, shown in Fig. 2, with thesivitch-compsitmeiit covei1 30 ioekeci in ciosed position hy theprojections o6. Access, therefore, ceimot be had to the switchcompartment. The locking pin is then inserted through the pertoretions50 in the rods 36 and the join sealed in position. When the switch is inopen position7 access may he heet hy the Wiring contractor to the fusecompartment for the "purpose of connecting the fuse-clip terminals tothe Wiring system eed inserting the fuses in their respective clips. Theswitch is thus heiri open uotii the 'Wiring inspector is ready to turnin the current. fin orcier'to do so7 the inspector removes the lockingpin 5l and moves the switch member to closed position. The pin thusremoveci is 'then inserted inthe clip 55 sont sealed in locking*position by the inspec tor who also seais the tusocompartment cover bvmeses of it seal 56 which is in sorted throogh perforetions 5t andprovitieii in the cover 33 enti the end Weit 6, respectively, Yiheswitch. is tree to he opened or ciosed untii the bor; is seeied. by thein Spector.

Whiie i have described enti iiiustreteti but one cmbofiimeiit of myinvention, it will he apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges, mofiiicetions substitutions, additions, smi omissions may hemade in the eppziratos tiescribeti Without tiepsrb img from the spiritand scope of the ioven tion, :is sei forth by the appended cieims,

I' claim :1s my invention:

l. Switch mechenism coitiprisiiig o housinghaving :i switch compartmentemi 'fuse compartment, e seperate movebie cover for closing cach ot thesaisi compartments, e movable sivitchioemher in 'the switch compartment,e' fuse member in vthe fuse compartment, enti means tor moving theswitch member to open and to closed position adapted, when in cioseciposition, to prevent opening movement of the cover closing the fusecompartment anoto permit opening movement of the cover ciosing theswitch conrlperttiiest7 enti, when iii open position, to permit openingmovement of the first said cover and to prevent epee ing movement of'the isst seid. covere 2. Switch mechenism comprising e heus ing having eswitch compartment etici :i fuse compartiment, e seperate moveh'ie covertoi? eech of the seid coiiprirtments, c moy sible switch member in theswitch comporthousing., s co mimos ment, tisse memher iii thiA moet,miti meses tor preses movement o?? the seid cover f the nich comp-tumoet, when the switch is open.,

' Eivvi ch iiiecheiiisi'ii comprising ing having; e switch commer comartreeot-9 e separe-.t ciosiig eech of 'the esiti cor switch mecheoismivithiiithe o usiii chie to open enti to cioseti position e meansinteriociting f 'the esiti covers hie cover whereby the cover closingthe coni-Ak the switch mechsoism is iii ciosect posi; met the coverciosiiig; the switch coiiipsrtmeot is iociteti foo ctose-ti positionwhen switch mechanism is open positi ii.

li. Switch meeheriism comprising cousiiig having e switchcompartmenteoti o. fuse compartment, e seperate movohie i ver forciosiog each oit the esiti compertmehts, e switch mechanism' 'within'the housi movcbie to open emi to closed positiorL het ing ineensiiiterioehing with the seid covers whereby movement of the seitt meciifinisci to eiteriietive positions oiterrieteiy locks theseid covers iiicioseci positio?Lu pertinent is tocieci in cioseri position when 5.Switch mecheiiisoi coioiprle of mg having so opeiiiiig ch accessiblethrough the esiti opeoir JFor ciosiiig the ssici openingy 'a carried bythe cover and iiitcrioch o; with the seiti switch when the is iii openposition for preventing opening movement of the cover.

6., Switch iiiechooisio comprising ing having so opeiiiiig5 e therein.accessible through the seio; openings e, :moi7N chie cover 'for ciosiiigthe seid opening, means carried hy the cover enti interiechf f with theseit?. switch when the hitter open position tor preventing ope "l i'moet of the cover9 end memos for iochiiig toe switch in epee position.

@Witch iecheiiism con ing hz'tviog e tese compoi compertment, etsoperete iso f oi each ot the seid compter switch :meiiihei' in 'themeses cerrieti by the cov'e compartment etici iriterio mg "with f switchwhen the is io o for preventing 'opt-initie; movemos? cover, andoperating meses for 'for moving the switch to open t eiosci position, soiliteriociting with cover ciosthe tese comperemeot the switch is incioseti position that opening movement o3? the esiti cover is prev-estoihy the seid operetiog' ii'ieeis t3. Switch mecheniem comprfsiog e.housheviog es opening the...ein:Y s knife switch, iiieiiher pivotziiiy'mounted ite the 'tor ciosiiig the ogseiiii in th-esst@ escueto Elsterhoesthe housing" locking member carried by the cover and projecting intothe housing, a projection extending from the switch member adapted toengage the arcuate interlocking member when the switch is in openposition and the ycover is in closed position for precluding openingmovement of the cover so long as the switch is in open position.

9. Switch mechanism comprisinga housing having an opening therein,aswitch member pivotally mounted in the housing, a cover for closing thening in the housing and means carried bym cover for interlockl; with theswitch, so related thenewit t the switch and cover may be wtuatedindependently of the other ex t when the cover is in closed position.and switch in open position.

1.0. Switch mechanism comprising a houssubscribed my name this 14th dayof Septomber, 1920.

LAWRENCE F. KRIES.

In testimony whereof, I have heieunto open and closed posi-

